Marilyn Monroe, Writing & Publishing: Interview with Mercedes King

We’re thrilled to have Mercedes King at The Writer’s Life! Mercedes is the author of a fantastic new historical psychological thriller, A Dream Called Marilyn.

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life! Now that your book has been published, we’d love to find out more about the process. Can we begin by having you take us at the beginning? Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

I have a fondness for Old Hollywood, and I grew up in a house with tabloids aplenty. So I think it was a natural transition for me to end up writing stories that blend fact with fiction. Marilyn Monroe, even though

she’s been gone over 50 years, still has a solid fan base. Her allure and appeal haven’t diminished, so it was fun using her as a character and dipping into her private life.

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

The hard part is blending fact with your fabrications and making it believable. To do this, be prepared to invest a ton of time into research. You read the books, articles, get to know someone like Marilyn, then add in your own flavors.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

Triumph Productions is my publisher. It’s my company and like another child. You have to raise it and rear it. Not an easy, overnight task. We’re talking the long haul.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

That it happened. My first book endured a lot of rejections because of the subject matter. There aren’t too many lines you can’t cross when it comes to art and publishing, but apparently, I found one.

Q: What other books (if any) are you working on and when will they be published?

I’m in the idea stage of a new book. I’m a tad superstitious and don’t want to say too much about it right now. I might—might—get a release date for September 2015. We’ll see.

Q: What’s your favorite place to hang out online?

Probably Facebook. I’m showing my age, right? But Google+ is growing on me.

Q: Finally, what message (if any) are you trying to get across with your book?

For this story, Marilyn’s greatest struggle was not having control of her life. Events spiraled and we know what happened to her (or we each give a nod to the version or conspiracy theory we’re convinced of, when it comes to her death). Life is a fragile thing, and truth can be painful and messy.

Q: Do you have any final words?

Thank you for your time and for this opportunity. I hope readers enjoy the story.

About the Author:

A founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio (affectionately dubbed SiCCO), Mercedes King can be found elbow-deep in research, reading, or enjoying the local bike path. Combining her love of pop culture with history, she created A Dream Called Marilyn, a fictional take on the last weeks of Marilyn’s life. With an unquenchable thirst for a bygone era, she’s also written O! Jackie, a fictional take on Jackie Kennedy's private life--and how she dealt with JFK's affairs. Short story fans would enjoy The Kennedy Chronicles, a series featuring Jackie and Jack before the White House and before they were married. Visit Mercedes’ website at www.mercedesking.com to find out more.

For More Information

Visit Mercedes King’s website.
Connect with Mercedes on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about Mercedes at Goodreads.
Visit Mercede’s blog.
More books by Mercedes.
Contact Mercedes.

About the Book:

In the summer of 1962, nothing could prepare Dr. Charles Campbell for his first meeting with new client, Marilyn Monroe. A reputable L.A. psychiatrist, he’s been hired by a studio executive to treat and subdue the star, no matter what it takes. Although he’s been warned about Ms. Monroe’s unpredictability, she’s not what he expected. Gaining Marilyn’s trust means crossing doctor-patient boundaries, and trying to separate fact from Hollywood-fed-rumors proves destructive to both Charles’ career and his personal life. As Marilyn shares her secrets and threatens to go public with information that could destroy President Kennedy’s administration, Charles’ world turns upside-down. He sinks deeper into her troubles than he should, but Charles becomes determined to help her, even though it means endangering Marilyn’s life and risking his own.